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Nothing excites me more than seeing women succeed in top soccer positions. It\u2019s one thing to celebrate the success of a women\u2019s team; it\u2019s even better to celebrate knowing a woman also leads the team. <\/span>Although the status of <\/span>women coaching U.S. soccer<\/span><\/a> is growing, these trailblazing women are making their mark leading international women\u2019s soccer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Our first international women\u2019s soccer coach is Bev Priestman<\/a>. Priestman is the head coach of the Canada Women\u2019s National Team. She led the team to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held this past summer.<\/p>\n Before being appointed head coach, she had previously worked as an assistant coach of the CANWNT. Additionally, Priestman worked for England\u2019s women\u2019s national team and their U-17 squad.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Manager of the Chelsea FCW since 2012, Hayes is the longest-serving manager in the WSL. The reigning champs in the WSL have earned a lot of hardware under her lead, including ten major trophies. <\/span><\/p>\n In January 2022, Hayes was named Best FIFA Women\u2019s Coach. In October 2021, she joined the Barclay\u2019s FA Women\u2019s <\/span>Super League<\/span><\/a> Hall of Fame. <\/span><\/p>\n Her contract with Chelsea was renewed indefinitely, showing loyalty between her as a coach and the team. She will now have the help of assistant coach Tanya Oxtoby, former head coach of Bristol City.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Asako Takakura has an insane record of winning the AFC Women\u2019s Coach of the Year Award six times\u2013every year from 2012 to 2018 except 2016. She worked her way up from coaching the Japan U-17 and U-20 teams to eventually becoming the first female head coach of the senior national team.<\/p>\n As of 2023, she now coaches the Shangai WFC in the Chinese Women\u2019s Super League.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Sarina Wiegman, head coach for the England Women\u2019s National Team, is the only female coach to be named Best FIFA Women\u2019s Coach twice. She took the position in 2021 after successfully leading the Netherlands Women\u2019s National Team. <\/span><\/p>\n The Dutch women won the Euro 2017 and made it to the 2019 Women\u2019s World Cup finals under her management. She was the first woman to reach 100 appearances during her years playing with the Dutch National Team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As the head coach for the England team, she led the Lionesses to a Women\u2019s Euro championship in 2022 and back-to-back Arnold Clark Cup victories.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Sonia Bompastor is the first female manager for Olympique Lyonnais! Bompastor signed as head of Lyon in 2021 on a two-year contract. She played for the club for several years, winning three French cups, two Champions League titles, and six league titles. She also served as captain for the French National Team for two years. As manager, she\u2019s kept nearly an 85% win percentage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Former player turned head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg keeps the German Women\u2019s National Team ranking high. They currently sit at number two in the world. Voss-Tecklenburg represented Germany 125 times and won four European Championships during her playing career. Before taking over the German team, she coached the Swiss Women\u2019s National Team and led them to their first-ever Women\u2019s World Cup in 2015.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Pia Sundhage has coached all around the globe. She retired from the Swedish national team as a forward and a top goal scorer in 1996 and began her coaching career after that.<\/p>\n Her first head coach gig was with the USWNT from 2008 to 2012. As of 2019, she\u2019s coached the Brazilian women\u2019s national team and helped develop them into a serious threat this World Cup cycle, including winning the Copa Am\u00e9rica in 2022.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Klimkova took over as head coach of New Zealand in 2021 on a six-year contract. Though she represented her home country as a defender for the Czech Republic Women\u2019s National Team, she is no stranger to New Zealand. <\/span><\/p>\n Klimkova formerly managed the New Zealand Women\u2019s U-17 team and was an assistant coach for the U-20 team. Eyes are on her now as New Zealand is co-hosting the Women\u2019s World Cup in 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Last but certainly not least of our international women\u2019s soccer coaches is Milena Bertolini. Bertolini has known nothing other than Italian soccer. She played and coached in various Italian clubs and is now the head coach of the Italy Women\u2019s National Team. <\/span><\/p>\n As a coach, Bertolini won the Supercoppa Italiana four times and Coppa Italia three times, among many other awards. She recently led the Italians to the finals of the 2022 Algarve Cup and helped them qualify for the World Cup this summer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While these women continue to pave the way for more <\/span>women coaches<\/span><\/a> globally, we can sleep well knowing international women\u2019s soccer is making positive strides.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Featured image via Getty Images<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n _<\/b><\/p>\n GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nBev Priestman<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Emma Hayes<\/b><\/h2>\n
Asako Takakura<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Sarina Wiegman<\/b><\/h2>\n
Sonia Bompastor<\/b><\/h2>\n
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg<\/b><\/h2>\n
Pia Sundhage<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Jitka Klimkova<\/b><\/h2>\n
Milena Bertolini<\/b><\/h2>\n